A&P to close, but grocery may remain

The owners of Alaskan and Proud in Juneau have decided to not renew their lease when it ends late this summer.

However, that doesn’t necessarily mean the end to grocery shopping in the Willoughby district.

“Of all the grocery stores in town, Foodland is uniquely situated,” John Williams, owner and broker of Juneau Realty said. The location serves 10,000 Juneau and Douglas shoppers, Williams said. “I’m very confident that we’ll have a grocery operator in there.”

The owners of the Foodland Center, Gary Rosenberger and his brothers and sisters, requested Williams speak for the company.

Williams said Williams Inc, owner of Alaskan and Proud grocery stores in Southeast Alaska, indicated its intention to vacate “for quite some period of time.”

“They waived an option to acquire the facility when Foodland started thinking about selling,” he said.

Foodland and Williams Inc. met to talk about upgrades to the building and conditions of a new lease, Williams said. After consideration, Williams Inc decided to pull out, he said.

“Landlord-tenant relations only work when they work for both parties,” Williams said.

The owners of Foodland have not found a new tenant yet. The property is for sale.

“That hasn’t changed,” Williams said. “Now knowing Alaskan and Proud are leaving, it will speed up the process.”

Foodland is looking for new tenants or someone to take over the current grocery, Williams said. It is in negotiation with both types of potential tenants.

Foodland Inc., as a corporation, goes back to 1953.

And the grocery location in Willoughby “goes way back before Alaskan and Proud took it over,” Williams said. The Rosenbergers’ father developed the Foodland center.